Should A Modern Computer Mouse Still Be Called A Mouse?

[rob86 2]

Computer mice are looking less and less like real life mice than they did when they were first invented. They originally got their name from rodent-like their appearance. Modern computer mice have lost their tails (cords), they glow red (or other colors) at the bottom, and they aren't always white or beige coloured anymore like a mouse. Do you think this important piece of computer hardware needs a revitalized name to reflect the changing times? What would you call it?

[anwiii 17]

they are the mice of the future. ever heard of evolution? glowing red mice are cool.....as long as people don't go to bed and have nightmares about 'm...

Computer mice are looking less and less like real life mice than they did when they were first invented. They originally got their name from rodent-like their appearance. Modern computer mice have lost their tails (cords), they glow red (or other colors) at the bottom, and they aren't always white or beige coloured anymore like a mouse. Do you think this important piece of computer hardware needs a revitalized name to reflect the changing times? What would you call it?

[dolrich06 0]

I think it would be best to leave it that way but I think rat would be cool enough.

[The Simpleton 2]

@rob86: well you can't definitely call them rats.... And thinking up of a new name after all these years would seem a little awkward, at least for the old users, because we've been using it since we started using computers. So changing it now wouldn't seem very smooth. Anyway, what is your idea for a new name?

[bluedragon 0]

I like the name 'mouse' .. Imagine after 20 yrs your parents decide to change your name :)How cool would that be ? and then .. I don't think mice have evolved too much, they have still the basic configuration ( 2-3 buttons and a generally a cord)

[Forte 0]

There are some keyboards that are more like keymats. You still call them keyboards. There's no reason to rename the mouse. It never looked like a mouse to begin with, to me at least. For what it's worth, mine still has it's "tail", because I prefer wired to wireless in just about everything. Besides, there's nothing that I can think of to call it aside from a mouse. It's what I grew up calling it, and "human interface device port 2" sounds a bit too robotic.

[The Simpleton 2]

I like the name 'mouse' .. Imagine after 20 yrs your parents decide to change your name smile.gif

lol that's a good point you made there! It would seem too awkward to change the name after these many years

[kleong 0]

No, just it as it is, mouse. Dont fix what is not broken and also leave a bit of "history" intact.

[kobra500 1]

It's a name, its irrelivent, so as they don't don't look like mice is about as good a reason to change the name as changing your name from Ginger because you died your hair brown.